kimball



E. A. `KIM BALL.

Water` Gage.

Patented June` 19, 1860.

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' E. A. KIMBALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSIJLF AND ADRIAN L.

MELLEN, OF SAME PLACE. Y

ALARM-GAGE FOR S'lIEnAM-BOILERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBENEZER A. KIM- BALL, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved `Water and Alarm Gage for Steam-Boilers; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l, exhibits a front view of the said gage. Fig. 2, a rear elevation of it, as it appears with the cover or cap plate of its dry steam chamber, removed from such chamber. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section taken through the valve stem. Fig. 4, is a transverse and vertical section of the valve chamber, valve seat and alarm whistle.

rl`he nature of my improvement consists in the arrangement and application of a slide valve, alarm whistle, valve seat, float lever, and index pointer or indicator, so that by the movements of the slide valve, occasioned by the said float lever, the indicator or index pointer shall be moved along its index or arc of divisions, and whenever the water of the boiler may have reached its lowest safety level, the valve port of the steam whistle shall be opened so as to enable the steam to flow from the dry steam chamber into the whistle, and sound an alarm.

My invention also further consists in providing the float stem or rod with a steam passage extending axially through it, and provided with an opening at or near each end of it, so that steam may freely pass from the boiler, through the valve stem and into the dry steamchamber; also in so applying to the index chamber, the device for moving the index hand, or pointer, that the steam which may escape from the valve opening of such device may not enter the index chamber so as to condense on the glass front thereof.

In the said drawings, A, denotes the index chamber of the gage, such chamber being furnished with a circular arc of divisions as shown at B. In rear of the said chamber, A, and entirely separate therefrom, is the dry steam chamber, C, which is supported on a tubular column, D, that projects upward from the boiler when the gage is in use. Through the said tubular column, the stem, E, of the float, F, passes, as shown in the drawings. This stem I make with a passage, a, extending axially through it, and

which the iioat lever, G, extends, such ioat lever being made to turn freely in a vertical plane, upon a stud or fulcrum, 0l, arranged 1n the dry steam chamber. The inferior arm of the float lever is furcated, and

straddles a pin, e, extending from the middle of a slide valve, I-I, placed so as to be capable of being moved vertically between parallel guides f, f, and upon a seat, I, arranged as shown in the drawings. The said valve seat, I, is furnished with two openings or ports g, 7L, the upper of which, (via, 9,) is somekwhat longer than the lower, and receives a pin or stud, z', extended from the front side of the slide valve, and into the forked, inferior arm, 0, of the index pointer or lever, K. The said pointer or lever, K, extends both into land out of the index chamber, A,

the side of such chamber being constructed with a slot or opening, 7c, for the reception of the index pointer, which turns on a ful- Crum arranged as shown at Z. Furthermore, a pipe or conduit, L, leads from the lowermost port or opening, hv, of the valve seat, I, to the steam whistle, M, such pipe or passage being on the front side of the valve seat plate or in an open chamber, P, as shown in the drawings.

From the above it will be perceived that the slide valve, H, while being moved by the oat lever, G, will also move the index pointer, K, and that provided the port, 7L, is properly arranged, it will be uncovered by the valve when the water in the boiler may reach its lowest safety level, in which case steam from the dry steam chamber will pass through the port, L, and into the pipe, L, and from thence into and through the whistle, M, so as to put the latter in operation. It will also be seen that the above mode of applying the devices for operating the index pointer, prevents any waste steam from entering the index chamber, so as to condense upon and foul its glass front, n, for in my improved gage there is no cylindrical passage leading directly from the index chamber, into the dry steam chamber, and serving as a bearing for the journal'connection of the float lever and the index pointer; and furthermore as there is no such passage, its usual stuiiing box is dispensed vvith.

The slide valve and its pin for operating the indicator lever, are outside of the index chamber and in a separate chamber so entirely disconnected with the index chamber, and open to the surrounding atmosphere, that any steam which may escape from the dry steam chamber, through the port, g, may pass off Without entering the index chamber, and condensing on its glass. Thus by my invention I avoid a serious diiiiculty incident t0 many other kinds of Water gages, viz., that of the condensation of steam on the glass of their index chambers, Whereby it is often rendered diiiicult to see the index pointer and its divisional arc.

I claim- 1. The arrangement and application of a slide valve, alarm Whistle, valve seat, oat

lever and index pointer, in such manner that by the'movements of the slide valve, occasioned by the loat lever, the indicator or index pointer shall be moved along its index or arc of divisions-and Whenever the Water of the boiler may have reached its lowest safety level, the -valve port of the steam Whistle, or the alarm apparatus shall be opened, so as to enable the steam to pass into the Whistle and sound an alarm.

2. Providing the float stem With a steam passage extending longitudinally through it, and opening into the boiler and dry steam chamber, as and for the purpose specified.

3. So applying to the index chamber, the device for moving the indicator, that any steam Which may escape from the valve opening of such device, may not enter the index chamber, so as to foul or condense on its glass.

E. A. KIMBALL.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr. 

